In an open letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday, 165 Iranian women athletes stressed that Esfandiari’s detention constitutes a violation of fundamental human rights and freedom of expression.

They urged the international community, human rights bodies, and global sporting institutions to take immediate action to secure her release, emphasizing that silence in the face of such injustice amounts to complicity.

Esfandiari, a graduate of the University of Lyon and a translator who has been living in France since 2018, disappeared in March 2025. Following diplomatic efforts, the Iranian administration later confirmed that she was in police custody.

The letter reads in part:

In this new era, where humanity has entered the quantum age of thought and technology, freedom of expression must not be sacrificed to the lobbying of those whose hands are stained with the blood of innocent children.

Mahdieh Esfandiari is the heir of a civilization that centuries ago proclaimed the timeless truth: ‘All human beings are members of one body.’ She spoke out not in the name of politics, but in the name of humanity, declaring that genocide is the disgrace of humanity and the killing of children is the shame of history.

Mr. Secretary-General, remaining silent in the face of her six-month detention amounts to complicity in oppression and legitimization of deceit. We urge immediate action for her unconditional release—an act that would not only defend a courageous individual but also reaffirm the universal values of human rights and humanity itself.

The athletes underlined that the case of Esfandiari is not only about one individual but about defending the principle of free expression. They declared that sport has taught them to fight for fairness, justice, and mutual respect—values that extend beyond stadiums and must inspire action whenever human dignity is at stake.